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Kim Hyatt

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Kim Hyatt is a reporter with The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and a 2014 graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth. She started her newspaper career at the Owatonna People’s Press covering arts and education. In 2016, she received Minnesota Newspaper Association's Dave Pyle New Journalist Award and later that year she joined The Forum newsroom.

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FARGO — To accommodate growth in south Fargo, the Board of Education is looking at purchasing land near Davies High School. On Tuesday, March 13, board members considered the recommendation of the district's planning committee to pursue making an offer on two parcels of land along 76th Avenue South. Goldmark Real Estate is asking approximately $2.2 million for 76.3 acres south of Davies. Board members unanimously voted Tuesday to proceed with soil testing to ensure the land is suitable for future development.

MOORHEAD — The city's chief administrator will get a salary raise following her first performance review. Christina Volkers, who was hired as city manager in January 2017, said she was pleased with the City Council's unanimous decision Monday, March 12, to increase her salary by $7,500. Her starting salary with the city was approximately $153,000, according to City Attorney John Shockley.

WEST FARGO – One man is dead and at least three police officers from the Fargo-Moorhead area are on paid administrative leave following a shooting in West Fargo on Monday night, March 12. West Fargo Police Chief Heith Janke said the deceased man was the subject of a prior ongoing investigation leading up to the shooting. Janke said a West Fargo officer tried to pull over the man for a violation Monday evening but he fled and a high-speed chase ensued through West Fargo.

MOORHEAD – Two designs are being considered for artwork on the Woodlawn water tower. In April, Moorhead Public Utilities plans to recoat the water tower, just as it did last year with the Oakport water tower, as part of its maintenance plan. MPS budgeted $20,000 for artwork created by local designers Jack Lunde and Stephen Dorsey, but the cost of a more detailed design is over budget by roughly $6,000.

FARGO — A centuries-old Catholic ceremony honoring legal professionals was held here Thursday, March 8, for a Fargo judge appointed to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Ralph Erickson served 24 years as a federal trial judge — 14 years in Fargo and 10 years as a county and state judge in Cass County. In his tenure on the bench, he presided over nearly 500 cases and filled in on the 8th Circuit in 92 cases. Erickson was nominated by President Donald Trump in June 2017 to fill the vacancy of former Judge Kermit Bye, who retired September 2016.

FARGO — Citing credibility issues and a lack of evidence, a prosecutor has declined to file criminal charges against a former Cass County Jail officer accused of sexual misconduct by two female inmates. Documents obtained by The Forum this week from the Cass County State's Attorney's Office show that prosecutor Reid Brady has decided not to charge the former officer, 30-year-old Teddric Walker. According to documents from the state's attorney's office:

MOORHEAD — More than 20 residents from the historic Comstock neighborhood concerned about parking lot encroachment attended a planning commission meeting Wednesday, March 7. Kristie Leshovsky, city planner and zoning administrator, said the commission was considering two options: prohibit parking lots in residential areas or change from provisional use permits to conditional use permits, which requires a public hearing and council approval following mail notification to all property owners within 350 feet of the property.

FARGO — James Kapitan, a retired Air Force colonel, announced Tuesday, March 6, that he is running for a North Dakota House seat from District 27, which includes south Fargo, Horace, Frontier, Briarwood and Stanley. Kapitan, 75, of Fargo, retired from the Air Force Reserve and North Dakota Air National Guard after 38 years of service. His career focussed on disaster preparedness, law enforcement and counter espionage.

FARGO – An investigation is underway at Oak Grove Lutheran School of an incident involving a student recording inside a girls’ theater dressing room. In a letter sent to parents, President Michael Slette said that an electronic recording device was placed in the dressing room during a Thursday, Feb. 22, performance of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

FARGO — Presiding Judge Frank Racek said he has been a part of many investiture in his tenure, but Monday, March 5, was for a new judge with "the most solid name we've ever had." Stephannie N. Stiel (pronounced "steel") officially took the bench at East Central Judicial District Court Monday in front of her husband, Thomas, four children, parents, new and old colleagues, neighbors and justices. "I'm honored and humbled today that everyone could come out and be a part of this and share this special day with me," Stiel said.